Irish Turf Club HQ ruined in fire

The Turf Club was founded in 1790

The headquarters of the historic Turf Club - Irish horse racing's regulatory body - have been destroyed in a fire.

Six fire crews battled to put out the blaze at the building on the Curragh racecourse, Co Kildare, which started shortly after 1900 GMT.

Cliff Noone, press officer of the Turf Club, said the building had been destroyed and the roof had collapsed.

About 85% of historical racing form books, dating back to 1790, had been saved, he added.

"It was a pretty extensive fire, the roof on the building has completely collapsed and as we are speaking I am standing across the road, and the back of the building is still ablaze," Mr Noone said on Saturday night.

"There are several fire crews and many garda around, but it is under control," he added.

Records saved

Mr Noone said there was no indication as to how the fire started but that an investigation would be launched.

There were no injuries in the fire, he said.

Fire crews from Kildare and Naas rushed to the scene after security staff were alerted to the blaze at about 0715 BST.

The Turf Club, founded in 1790, is responsible for both flat and national hunt racing in Ireland.

Mr Noone said that a high percentage of the racing records had been saved because they were kept behind a fire proof wall.

The form books carried the records of every race run in Ireland, he added.

"We have lost a lot of paperwork and files - we don't know the extent of it yet. Whatever is lost, is lost."